The BeLit Bulletin, October 2021
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Our NEW BeLit Campus is OPEN!
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Our North Philadelphia location has expanded and relocated to Kensington! Nestled in a community of education-focused nonprofits, our new campus at 100 W. Oxford Street is accessed just off the El between Girard and Berks providing convenience to our learners seeking services.
There are two days left to register for open house hours at all 3 of our centers. Come meet some of our amazing learners and see the difference your support is making in the community.
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Tuesday, 10/12, 9:30-11:30am, at our Center City Campus:
Peirce College, 1420 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Wednesday, 10/13, 9:30-11:30am, at our West Campus:
229 N. 63rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19139
Thursday, 10/14, 5:00-6:30pm, at our NEW Kensington Campus:
100 W. Oxford Street, Suite W-1000, Philadelphia, PA 19122
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BeLit needs YOUR vote at the
2nd Annual Philanthropitch Philadelphia!
BeLit is honored to be one of five nonprofit finalists to participate in Philanthropitch Philadelphia. In this friendly competition, YOU unlock the majority of dollars for our mission by one of two ways:
1) CHEER US ON LIVE:
Join the audience at Philanthropitch and cheer us on in front of the judges. 100% of your ticket cost goes straight to Beyond Literacy and helps unlock further funding via the Audience Choice Award.
When & where: Thursday, 10/28, 5:30pm at the National Museum of American Jewish History, 5th and Market. Tickets are $45. This live event requires proof of vaccination. Click here to purchase a ticket!
2) CAN'T MAKE IT IN PERSON? YOU CAN STILL SUPPORT BELIT: Vote for us during the public voting period from 10/20-10/26 (we’ll share our pitch link when voting opens on 10/20). Each vote costs $15 and 100% goes directly to BeLit. The nonprofit with the most votes wins $5000 in additional funding!
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Digital Inclusion Week 10/4 - 10/8
Internet access is vital in today’s world, yet there are a number of technological roadblocks that our learners face including basic knowledge of how to use a computer.
BeLit helps bridge these gaps everyday thanks to the generous support of our friends at Comcast, United Way, and the city's Digital Literacy Alliance. Their extraordinary collaboration allows our Digital Navigators to bring reliable internet, donated devices, and free digital literacy classes to the communities we serve. We could not be more grateful to these committed partners!
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BeLit Awarded Grant from SILA Foundation
BeLit was honored to receive a Footprint Grant from the Securities and Insurance Licensing Association (SILA) Foundation at their National Education Conference. Pictured left to right, is Lesli Leakey, SILA Foundation President and Cynthia Allen, Director of Family and Community Partnerships, BeLit. Thank you, SILA, for highlighting BeLit’s services and mission at your event.
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OUR LEARNER SPOTLIGHT:
Hannah Bui, 44, ESL Learner
In January of 2003, Hannah Bui came to America with her daughter and niece, to join her husband in South Philadelphia. Growing up in the country region of Vietnam, Hannah was overwhelmed by the large city. More surprising to her, however, was the cold temperatures as she arrived in Philadelphia during a massive blizzard. Since then, Hannah has warmed up to Philadelphia, working in multiple beauty salons and obtaining her license for both hair and nails all while raising her two young daughters.
Recently, with her older daughter away at college in California, and with fewer work opportunities during the pandemic, she decided to use her extra time to sharpen her skills in English. She enrolled at Beyond Literacy where she began taking low intermediate level ESL classes virtually last year. "The online classes are convenient for me. I love taking classes because I want to learn more," she said.
Hannah quickly moved up to the advanced classes where she continues to thrive as a student and classmate. "Hannah's progression from Low Intermediate to Advanced seemed to happen very naturally as she developed more confidence," says her teacher, Michael Antosch. "Hannah is still participating as actively as ever, and isn't intimidated by the larger group or the more complex content."
Hannah is determined to gain English proficiency through her BeLit classes so she can communicate with her customers better. "I live in America, and because I'm from a different country, it is very good for me to learn to read, learn grammar, and speak well."
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Beyond Literacy, the largest adult education agency in Philadelphia, is the result of a recent merger between Center for Literacy and Community Learning Center. Our mission is to expand opportunities and improve lives by unleashing the power of literacy through free, high-quality education.
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